Call to cut college fees to relieve the stress on students
PRESSURE is growing on Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris to cut third-level fees in response to the pressure placed on student income by Covid-19.
Students working to put themselves through college are among the biggest economic casualties of the pandemic, Fianna Fáil TD James Browne has warned.
The Wexford TD has asked his coalition colleague, Minister Simon Harris, to draft a practical response to difficulties such students face.
Speaking to the Irish Mail on Sunday Mr Browne said: ‘The fiscal capacity of students to return for the new calendar college year has been compromised by the economic impact of mass unemployment.
‘An increasing number of families and students depend on casual work in bars and cafes to see them through college.
‘Coronavirus has closed down huge swathes of summertime casual labour. The days of flying to America or London for a summer of construction work are gone.’
Mr Browne said that this is an issue particularly impacting middleincome families who may have more than one student in third level.
‘The minister should find some practical way to deal with these circumstances,’ he said, adding that he would like to see a review of third-level fees.
Responding, Mr Harris said: ‘The financial impact of Covid-19 on higher education and the tertiary education system is being assessed.’ He said he is ‘conscious of the difficulties being experienced by students and their families because of the Covid-19 pandemic’.
‘The Student Grant Scheme and related supports, such as the
Student Assistance Fund and the Fund for Students with Disabilities have a fundamental role in assisting families who are putting their children through further and higher education,’ he added.
Mr Harris confirmed that student grant payments for the academic year 2019/20 will continue as normal and said applications for the academic year 2020/21 will be assessed on income earned in 2019.
He added: ‘The Student Assistance Fund [SAF] provides financial assistance to students experiencing financial difficulties while attending third level.
‘Students can be assisted towards the rent, childcare costs, transport costs as well as books and class materials.’
Mr Harris expressed his concerns about the challenges being faced by parents and students as a consequence of Covid-19.
He said: ‘I am very conscious many jobs that students took on during college will no longer be available.
‘I am working with the Government to ensure young people can get back to work.
‘We need to do everything we can to stimulate the economy in July and look at further measures we can take to reduce costs on families throughout the academic year.’
‘Coronavirus has closed down casual labour’